Selma Blair has revealed she has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in a heartfelt tribute to the people who have been helping her get by as she struggles in everyday life and on the set of Netflix's Another Life.

Blair, 46, shared on Saturday that she received the news in August, after finally seeing a doctor at the urging of fellow actor and friend Elizabeth Berkley Lauren.

'I was in this wardrobe fitting two days ago. And I am in the deepest gratitude. So profound, it is, I have decided to share,' Blair wrote in an Instagram post.

'The brilliant costumer #Alisaswanson not only designs the pieces #harperglass will wear on this new #Netflix show [Another Life], but she carefully gets my legs in my pants, pulls my tops over my head, buttons my coats and offers her shoulder to steady myself. I have #multiplesclerosis.'

In the days leading up to the post, she shared smaller pieces of a puzzle that made much more sense once her diagnosis was revealed.

She said on Saturday she'd most likely had MS for the better part of the last two decades.

Actor Selma Blair revealed on Saturday that she's been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, in a heartfelt tribute to those helping her through her struggles in life and on set of Netflix's 'Another Life,' along with a photo she took during a fitting on Thursday

RELATED ARTICLES

Share this article

Share

'Since my diagnosis at ten thirty pm on The night of August 16, I have had love and support from my friends, especially @Jaime king @sarahmgellar @realfreddieprinze @tarasubkoff @noah.d.newman,' Blair wrote on Saturday.

'And the biggest thanks to @elizberkley who forced me to see her brother #drjasonberkley who gave me this diagnosis after finding lesions on that MRI.

'I have had symptoms for years but was never taken seriously until I fell down in front of him trying to sort out what I thought was a pinched nerve.'

MS is defined as 'an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body,' according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The Cruel Intentions star got very candid about the challenges she's been facing while dealing with her MS.

On Thursday, Blair shared an image of not the MRI, but an x-ray, ahead of her announcement on Saturday

'I am disabled. I fall sometimes. I drop things. My memory is foggy. And my left side is asking for directions from a broken gps. But we are doing it,' she wrote.

'And I laugh and I don’t know exactly what I will do precisely but I will do my best.'

On Thursday, Blair shared an image of not the MRI, but an x-ray, ahead of her announcement on Saturday.

She wrote with the image: 'Throwback Thursday to mid August. My neck pain was so severe I finally got an x Ray. Notice that straightened neck. We don’t want that. #kyphosis #stenosis #degenerativediscdisease and this was just the beginning. Btw. Aren’t x rays fascinating? Anyone have anything to add? This is fun #c4 #c5 #c6 smushed #aging #equestran #whiplash It is also how you can eventually get that awful hump you sometimes see [emoji with gritted teeth] with age.'

On Friday, Blair shared a photo of her face in her hands, while still in bed, with her hair covering much of here eyes.

She wrote, then: 'When you wake up and remember you have great hair color and a manicure that makes you feel polished. Makes scrambled brain of mine feel so much better.'

On Friday, Blair shared a photo of her face in her hands, while still in bed, with her hair covering much of here eyes, writing: 'When you wake up and remember you have great hair color and a manicure that makes you feel polished. Makes scrambled brain of mine feel so much better'

Blair shared on Saturday that as her symptoms are worsening, she remains thankful to the people on her team who have stood by her and enabled her to continue to make Hollywood magic. Blair is shown here attending Netflix's 'Lost In Space' premiere on April 9 in Los Angeles

Blair shared on Saturday that as her symptoms are worsening, she remains thankful to the people on her team who have stood by her and enabled her to continue to make Hollywood magic.

'I am in an exacerbation. By the grace of the lord, and will power and the understanding producers at Netflix, I have a job. A wonderful job,' she wrote.

She shared appreciation for virtually the entire team on Netflix's new production, Another Life, where Blair plays a 21st century influencer who uses every tool at her disposal in her efforts to break one of the biggest stories ever told.

'My producers #noreenhalpern who assured me that everyone has something. #chrisregina #aaronmartin and every crew member... thank you. I am in the thick of it but I hope to give some hope to others. And even to myself,' she wrote.

In the heartwrenching post, Blair acknowledged that there are things she simply can't do by herself right now, and enduring exhaustion has been a particularly tough challenge for her. She's shown doing here in Los Angeles on October 14

What is multiple sclerosis (MS)?

MS is an an immune system disorder. This is when something goes wrong with the immune system and it mistakenly attacks a healthy part of the body – in this case, the brain or spinal cord of the nervous system.

In MS, the immune system attacks the layer that surrounds and protects the nerves, called the myelin sheath. This damages and scars the sheath, and potentially the underlying nerves, meaning that messages travelling along the nerves become slowed or disrupted.

Exactly what causes the immune system to act in this way is unclear, but most experts think a combination of genetic and environmental factors is involved.

In the heartwrenching post, Blair acknowledged that there are things she simply can't do by herself right now, and enduring exhaustion has been a particularly tough challenge for her.

'You can’t get help unless you ask. It can be overwhelming in the beginning. You want to sleep. You always want to sleep. So I don’t have answers,' she wrote.

'You see, I want to sleep. But I am a forthcoming person and I want my life to be full somehow. I want to play with my son again. I want to walk down the street and ride my horse. I have MS and I am ok.

'But if you see me, dropping cr** all over the street, feel free to help me pick it up. It takes a whole day for me alone. Thank you and may we all know good days amongst the challenges.'

She ended the post with the stark realization that she's been battling this disease without even knowing it for a very long time, and now that she has the knowledge, she's also gained a small amount of relief.

'I have probably had this incurable disease for 15 years at least. And I am relieved to at least know. And share,' she wrote.